Travis Kelce contract, explained: Why Chiefs reportedly signed aging tight end to 3-year instead of shorter term

Travis Kelce contract, explained: Why Chiefs reportedly signed aging tight end to 3-year instead of shorter term originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce had agreed to a deal that would keep him with the franchise for the 2026 season.

Initially, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport had said that it was a one-year deal worth $12 million, which made sense given the veteran tight end has mulled retirement after each of the last two seasons. The surprise of the contract came on Monday, March 23, when Rapoport reported that it had been signed, but it wasn't a one-year deal. Instead, Kelce signed a reported three-year extension worth nearly $55 million.

This is an extremely misleading way to discuss the contract that Kelce got. With that in mine, here is more on the three-year deal that the tight end signed with the Chiefs and what it really means. MORE : Seahawks sign Jaxon Smith-Njigba to record-setting deal Travis Kelce contract Kelce was initially reported to be returning to Kansas City on a one-year deal worth $12 million.

While that is the case, it was reported on March 23 that the deal is actually a three-year extension worth $54. 735 million. The first year is still worth $12 million, but it also comes with up to $3 million in incentives.